shiver shiv-er / shĭv-ər noun 1. a tremble or the act of trembling or shaking A cold shiver was creeping through his veins.  From “The Illustrious Prince” by E. Phillips Oppenheim, 1866 – 1946 2. the shivers, an instance or attack of quivering or trembling The ruined houses and abandoned outbuildings are guaranteed to give even the biggest skeptic the shivers.  Dana Hanson, “10 Reasons to Visit Portlock,... Read More

nippy nip-py / nĭp-ē adjective 1. having a tendency to bite Spoiling may create a pushy, nippy dog that lacks confidence.  From “Choosing a Dog: Your Guide to Picking the Perfect Breed” by Nancy Baer and Steve Duno 2. chilly; cold And the days of a long, hot Kansas summer, a glorious autumn, and a short, nippy winter swung by in their appointed seasons. From “A Master’s Degree” by... Read More

silence si-lence / sī-ləns noun (no plural) 1. the failure or refusal to speak out or communicate From his silence a man’s consent is inferred.  Latin Proverb 2. the state or condition of being silent Love and let the world know, hate in silence.  Egyptian Proverb 3. complete quiet; the absence of any sound; stillness God speaks in the silence of the heart. Mother Teresa, 1910 – 1997 4. a period... Read More

felicity fe-lic-i-ty / fĭ-lĭs-ĭ-tē noun 1. happiness; the state of being happy Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day. Benjamin Franklin, 1706 – 1790   2. an occurrence of great happiness or joy And what greater felicity than to be alone in a tavern with your last new song, just... Read More

strive strive / strīv verb 1. to exert oneself; to earnestly try Love one another and do not strive for another’s undoing.  Native American Proverb 2. to struggle against; to fight for superiority or victory Two dogs strive for a bone, and a third runs away with it.  Traditional Proverb

anew a-new / ə-no͞o, ə-nyo͞o adverb 1. once again; once more All work is as seed sown; it grows and spreads, and sows itself anew.  Turkish Proverb 2. in a new and different way or manner When any real progress is made, we unlearn and learn anew what we thought we knew before.  Henry David Thoreau, 1817 – 1862

tradition tra-di-tion / trə-dĭsh-ən   noun 1. the passing down of cultural customs, practices or beliefs through generations, particularly through word of mouth Tradition means handing on all that is of value to the next generation. Henry Lewis Bullen, 1857 – 1938   2. a custom, practice or belief passed within families or social groups from one generation to another All major religious traditions carry basically the... Read More

midnight mid-night / mĭd–nīt adjective 1. pertaining to 12 o’clock at night Let my lamp at midnight hour be seen in some high lonely tower.  British Proverb 2. dark or gloomy Midnight blue is the only color that can ever compete with black. Christian Dior, 1905 – 1957 noun (no plural) 1. 12 o’clock at night, often referred to as the middle of the night One hour’s sleep before midnight,... Read More

conclusion con-clu-sion / kən-klo͞o-zhən noun 1. the final part; the end If, on a rare occasion, it is necessary to speak with some severity in order to make a grievous crime felt, we should always, at the conclusion of the rebuke, add some kind words.  Alphonsus Liguori. 1696 – 1787   2. the outcome or end result Passion makes the best observations and the sorriest conclusions.  Jean... Read More

festivity fes-tiv-i-ty / fĕ-stĭv-ĭ-tē noun (plural festivities) 1. a merry and fun celebration or occasion A resolute and wise refusal to take part in festivities will be an incentive for introspection and self-purification. Mahatma Gandhi, 1869 – 1948 2. the joyous, happy characteristics of a celebratory event or festival; gaiety The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and... Read More